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1 The parts of a book

1.7 Paper and book sizes

1.7.1 Paper sizes

The dimensions of a book depend on the dimensions of the sheet (the quad sheet) on which it is printed. For many centuries the dimensions of the common sizes of sheet have been proportioned so that they can be folded to produce viable page sizes without wastage (a small allowance is made for trimming the folded sheet). For example, quarto (4to or 4to) and octavo (8vo or 8vo) are obtained by folding standard sizes two and three times respectively.

Measured in millimetres the common metric paper sizes (untrimmed) are:

Size

Quad sheet

4to

8vo

metric crown

768 × 1,008

252 × 192

192 × 126

metric large crown

816 × 1,056

264 × 204

204 × 132

metric demy

888 × 1,128

282 × 222

222 × 141

metric royal

960 × 1,272

318 × 240

240 × 159

International paper sizes have been standardized still further by the ISO (International Standards Organization): A is the commonest, used for business correspondence, photocopying, etc.; B is used for posters, wall charts, and similar large items; C is used for envelopes and folders to fit A-series sizes. Measured in millimetres A and B (trimmed) sizes are:

A series

B series

A0

841 × 1,189

B0

1,000 × 1,414

A1

594 × 841

B1

707 × 1,000

A2

420 × 594

B2

500 × 707

A3

297 × 420

B3

353 × 500

A4

210 × 297

B4

250 × 353

A5

148 × 210

B5

176 × 250

A6

105 × 148

B6

125 × 176

A7

74 × 105

B7

88 × 125

A8

52 × 74

A9

37 × 52

A10

26 × 37

Figure 1.1 International paper sizes A

1.7.2 Book sizes

The following are the standard octavo trimmed and untrimmed page sizes, and the dimensions of the quad sheets from which they are derived, in millimetres:

Size

Millimetres

metric crown 8vo

trimmed

186 × 123

untrimmed

192 × 126

quad

768 × 1,008

metric large crown 8vo

trimmed

198 × 129

untrimmed

204 × 132

quad

816 × 1,056

metric demy 8vo

trimmed

216 × 138

untrimmed

222 × 141

quad

888 × 1,128

metric royal 8vo

trimmed

234 × 156

untrimmed

240 × 159

quad

960 × 1,272

A5

trimmed

210 × 148

untrimmed

215 × 152.5

quad

860 × 1,220

Dimensions are always given with height before width; for landscape formats reverse the pairs of numbers.

Mass-market paperbacks are often produced in what are known as A format and B format sizes. The first of these is 178 × 111 mm, B format is 196 × 129 mm.